Scale Overview
The Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study (CYDS) was developed by Tolan, Gorman-Smith & Henry (2001). It is designed to measure Sense of Belonging. The scale is intended for use with Youths and Caregivers.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 6 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Caregiver’s Sense of Belonging, Youth’s Sense of Belonging.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Caregiver's Sense of Belonging |
1,2,4,5 |
4 |
| Youth's Sense of Belonging |
1,2,4,6 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neither, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly disagree.
The scale includes 5 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Mean score range (higher scores indicate a stronger sense of belonging after reverse coding): 1 – 5
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.